Chalking up a climate challenge

A HANDFUL of young climate activists took to Geelong Town Hall last Friday to protest the lack of inaction by the Australian Government to slow the roll of climate change.

Last Friday’s School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) protest was part of a nationwide school strike, which saw students across the country march out of school lessons to participate in COVIDSafe protests.

According to organisers of the Geelong and Surf Coast strike, the main point of the protest was to “say no to funding dangerous gas and coal projects, and instead invest in clean renewable energy, secure jobs and First Nations solutions to protect Country”.

Kardinia International College year 11 student and organiser Greta Cuthell reiterated that despite their age, she and her fellow organisers know they mean business.

“We have got that fire in our bellies,” Ms Cuthell said.

“We know that no matter what we will be the ones voting for our future and for the future generations as well.

“We want to spread the message that we will be voting out the local MPs if they won’t take climate action seriously and we want net zero emissions by 2030.”

As part of the strike, the students who attended also took to the pavement, expressing their voices by way of chalk drawings and messages around the historic Geelong building.

Messages included ‘Forests Matter’, ‘Fund our Future, not Gas’ and ‘Cut Coal Out’.

Fellow organiser and Oberon High School year 11 student Arlia Phieler said the student strike had been in the works for the past five weeks but started sharing the event just a couple of weeks prior to last Friday.
“COVID has obviously kept us apart but now we have been able to come together and so many people have come past to grab chalk which has been really amazing,” Ms Phieler said.

“If you are one of those people that says we need more climate activists, then why not be that person and stand up for your future.

“This is your future, this is your children’s future, this is everyone’s future we are talking about that is at stake. The next decade will decide this and we need to make sure that politicians are keeping our future in their interests and policies.”

Both young women said there will be more events in the future as the next federal election quickly approaches to try and amp up pressure on the Morrison government.